Chipping Sparrows in Newfoundland and Labrador
When chipping sparrows are present in Newfoundland and Labrador, when they nest, which native Newfoundland and Labrador plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 0a–6b yard.
- Status in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 0a–6b
When to expect chipping sparrows in Newfoundland and Labrador
Chipping Sparrows are summer residents in Newfoundland and Labrador, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on grasshoppers, leafhoppers and caterpillars.
Cool maritime on the island of Newfoundland; subarctic in Labrador.
Nesting in Newfoundland and Labrador
Across Newfoundland and Labrador, chipping sparrows typically nest from May–July. Nest site: loose cup lined with hair, 3–10 ft up in conifers or shrubs. Females lay 2–7 eggs, incubate for 10–15 days, and young leave the nest after 9–12 days.
Cool summers; nesting often starts in June.
- Chipping Sparrows don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, red maple, willow (bebb) for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Newfoundland and Labrador plants that attract chipping sparrows
Of the regional native plants we track for Newfoundland and Labrador, these 5 provide food or cover chipping sparrows use:
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Among the first spring bloomers; early insects for returning migrants.
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Catkin seed for redpolls on the tundra.
Tall magenta spikes are a key northern hummingbird flower.
Feeding chipping sparrows through the Newfoundland and Labrador year
Chippers feed on lawns and low platforms and nest in ornamental evergreens near houses.
- Best foods: Millet, Hulled sunflower chips.
- In Newfoundland and Labrador's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Full diet breakdown for chipping sparrows · Best feeder for chipping sparrows
Frequently asked
Are chipping sparrows in Newfoundland and Labrador year-round?
No. Chipping Sparrows are summer breeders in Newfoundland and Labrador and leave for the winter.
When do chipping sparrows nest in Newfoundland and Labrador?
Nesting in Newfoundland and Labrador typically runs May–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 2–7 eggs, incubated for 10–15 days.
What native plants attract chipping sparrows in Newfoundland and Labrador?
Paper birch, Red maple, Willow (Bebb), Dwarf birch, Fireweed are native plants in Newfoundland and Labrador that provide food or cover for chipping sparrows.
Chipping Sparrows in other regions
Other backyard birds in Newfoundland and Labrador
Sources
- Chipping Sparrow — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Chipping Sparrow life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Chipping Sparrow — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Newfoundland and Labrador
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.